8.

3 THEORY OF FLIGHT

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 FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN
THRUST FLIGHT
• The aircraft’s propelling force
• Arranged symmetrically to the
centre line
• Act parallel to the line of flight
WEIGHT@ GRAVITY
Acts vertically downwards
through
the Centre of Gravity
FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT
LIFT
Acts at right angle to the line of
flight & through the Centre of
Pressure of the wings
DRAG
• Opposes the forward motion
• Regarded as a rearward
acting force
 FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN
FLIGHT
• An aircraft flying at constant height and speed
LIFT = WEIGHT
THRUST = DRAG
• Under these condition
i. Angle of attack altered to adjust the production
of lift exactly equals the weight which it must
support
ii. Engine thrust set to exactly equal the aircraft
drag generated at that particular speed

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces
• Lift = Weight and Thrust = Drag
 Aircraft tend to rotate nose up or nose down if the
forces line of action not correctly arranged
 Proper arrangement of the forces (depends on aircraft
design)
i. Centre of pressure aft of centre of gravity  nose
down
ii. Thrust line below drag line  nose up

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces

LIFT

WEIGHT

LIFT and WEIGHT = nose down couple

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces
THRUST and DRAG = nose up couple

DRAG THRUST

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces
THRUST and DRAG = nose up couple

LIFT

DRAG THRUST

WEIGHT

LIFT and WEIGHT = nose down couple

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 GLIDE
• Condition aircraft with no thrust from
engine
• Glide ratio distance covered to hight lost
• Highest Lift/Drag ratio give maximun
distance by flying with minimunm drag
 FLIGHT ENVELOPE
• Load factor is ratio of aircraft lift to its
weight
• Flight envelope discribe aerodynamic and
structural limitation of aircraft
• Pilot fly the aircraft based on the envelope